Yesterday, the Missouri House of Representatives approved House Bill 14, the supplemental appropriations budget for state fiscal year 2017. The supplemental budget provides funding for mandatory programs like Medicaid, which have costs that are projected to exceed the amount of the original annual appropriation. HB 14 provides $189.1 million for Medicaid program costs, including $50.1 million for hospital care. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Hospital Tort Reform Bill Receives House Hearing

Yesterday, the House Special Committee on Litigation Reform held a hearing on Senate Bill 237, sponsored by Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), to restore the hospital tort reform protections that passed in 2005 but were overturned in the Jefferson v. Missouri Baptist decision handed down in the Eastern Court of Appeals in 2014. Testifying in favor were MHA, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri State Medical Association, SSM Health, CoxHealth and BJC Healthcare. Testifying in opposition was the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys. The bill is scheduled for an executive session tomorrow.

Hospital Regulatory Relief Bill Receives Hearing In Senate Committee

Today, the Senate Health and Pensions Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 518, sponsored by Sen. Ed Emery (R-Lamar), to allow hospitals in compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation to be deemed in compliance with the standards for hospital licensure in Missouri, easing the burden of duplicative state regulations. MHA testified in favor. There was no opposition.